It's time for The Official Jon Schaffer Band Thread. Here we can discuss how much of an egotistical douche Schaffer is..... Just Kidding. Discuss all things Iced Earth and post whatever news you find about the band, but please, keep the Ripper Vs. Barlow debate to a minimum. They both released amazing work with Iced Earth, and I for one find it difficult sometimes to choose a favorite.... So I made a poll

Yeah, I frequent that forum, although, lately it's been very slow (and probably will be for awhile as Schaffer is taking a long break). I tried that as an intro and it does work pretty well lol. I think I'm going to include the sample in our next KrotchRaut song.

Yeah I can't wait for the DVD, and it's nice that Schaffer included footage from when Ripper was still in the band.

I'd have to say Barlow is my favorite singer with Iced Earth, but songs such as Gettysburg, and pretty much all of Framing Armageddon are pretty much unmatched. Before the Something Wicked Box Set was called off, I was kind of scared to hear Barlow sing The Domino Decree. lol

i still listen to storm rider but that guy doesnt matter cause hes a nazi and i hate all racism

Why is he a Nazi?

He was a full blown racist. Jon talked about it in an old interview which I'm not sure anyone can locate now. Jon said he even took Greely to Auschwitz to get him to change his mind and Greely just took the whole thing as a joke.

i still listen to storm rider but that guy doesnt matter cause hes a nazi and i hate all racism

Why is he a Nazi?

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Originally Posted by spawn (Ultimate Metal Forums)

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Greely was a full blown racist and Jon would dissolve the band before ever bringing him back.

Exactly. I found an old interview with jon on a unnoficial website but can't remember where. He explained that. He even brought him at auschwitz (spelling?) during the world tour to try to make him realize how much racist is shit and he just made some very disturbing comments. Jon kicked him a few days later.

Former vocalist, John Greely, was ejected from the band after making anti Semite comments while on tour with Blind Guardian in Europe. Jon Schaffer took John Greely to a former concentration camp in hopes of trying to change Greely's attitude. While they were there, John Greely made anti Semite comments towards a Jewish man who was praying. Greely also expected that since he was the front man of a band that he should be getting more money. When his wishes were not met, he tried to steal money from the band and was immediately kicked out as a result.

Greely was kicked out of the band after allegedly stealing money from other band members and making anti-semitic comments on the European tour with Blind Guardian while in Germany. Vocalist Matt Barlow joined the band (after a three-year band hiatus following Night of the Stormrider) in 1995 for Burnt Offerings.

John (Greely): Anti-Semitic comments, that I stole money…it's a joke. I paid money into that band in the form of dues for like two years, like a hundred-twenty bucks, hundred-thirty bucks a month or whatever, towards the band. And from Dave Abel, you'd find out what I'm telling is true too. He just made that sh*t up.

Greely completely dodges the anti-Semitic thing, and when asked about stealing money he just says that he "paid dues." Sounds to me like the anti-Semitic thing is probable, and he thought he could just take it upon himself to "take his dues back" after he got kicked out.

So Greely denies it PERSONALLY but because somebody has ALLEGEDLY said he made some unspecified comments and the generic to cover all sins "stole money" we must think the worst about him and he suddenly becomes a "full blown racist". Summary justice and execution there perhaps?

So Greely denies it PERSONALLY but because somebody has ALLEGEDLY said he made some unspecified comments and the generic to cover all sins "stole money" we must think the worst about him and he suddenly becomes a "full blown racist". Summary justice and execution there perhaps?

Well, shit, I showed both and links sides. Am I allowed to come to my own conclusions, or what?

If you read it, he doesn't comment specifically on the anti-Semitic part. His denial of the money-stealing is also rather equivocal. On top of that is common sense- why would Jon make any of that up? Jon is generally honest and to-the-point. He's had no problem dismissing Barlow and Ripper Owens without making up extravagant lies about them. Also, making up lies about another person and printing them is libel. I don't like Jon anymore than the next guy, and I think he runs Iced Earth in a very self-centered and narrow fashion, but I doubt he ever took tyrannic rule over the band to that level.

The fact is, Andy, that you are a complete n00b to the world of Iced Earth and this info about Greely is nothing new. It's something that all the die-hard Iced Earth fans know and have generally accepted. If you'd like to investigate further and maybe even pull up this Schafer interview which everyone seems to know about, feel free to. Make sure to post what you find.

Jon would never release such material. The only person that might still have that material is Ripper, since he would have to listen to the songs to learn them. Even then, it's highly doubtful and more than likely just a rumor.